Umberto Rispoli to hire new agent next month
Jockey Umberto Rispoli, tied for 11th in the standings among a tough group of riders at Santa Anita, plans to change agents next month.
Rispoli said on Wednesday that he will part ways with Tony Matos on March 5. Matos has represented Rispoli since last May when the jockey returned to California after a brief stay in Kentucky.
Rispoli said he has not finalized plans for a new agent. Matos will continue to book mounts for Abel Cedillo.
“Tony is a good person, but it was the right time to part,” Rispoli said.
Rispoli, a native of Italy, had seven wins from 67 mounts at the meet through Thursday. He won a stakes in late December and in early January.
Rispoli has yet to win a riding title since arriving from Hong Kong in late 2019, but did finish second by one win to Flavien Prat at the 2020 Del Mar summer meeting. Rispoli was third in the standings at the 2022 Santa Anita autumn meeting and tied for fourth at the 2022 Del Mar autumn meeting.
Juan Hernandez has been the dominant rider at the Santa Anita meeting, with 35 wins through Thursday. Frankie Dettori is second with 14.
Dettori, Flavien Prat, who tied for fifth, and John Velazquez, who ranks eighth, will ride at Santa Anita until early spring before leaving. Dettori is scheduled to return to England, while Prat and Velazquez will ride in Kentucky and on the East Coast.
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